Support in Southport and Sefton for homes for Ukraine scheme

To help sponsors in Sefton offering their homes and their Ukrainian guests when they arrive, Sefton Council has set up web pages containing the information they may need, including a set of Questions and Answers.

These can all be found by visiting www.sefton.gov.uk/homes-for-ukraine and following the links.

Sefton Council’s and its partners are in touch with around households across the Borough offering their homes to people from Ukraine fleeing the war, under the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme.

To ensure the scheme is safe for sponsors and their guests when they arrive, the Council is carrying out the required checks. It is also putting safeguarding procedures in place and organising for payments to householders and their Ukrainian guests once they arrive.

The Government has said that under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, Ukrainians will be guaranteed free access to NHS healthcare, including mental health care. The Council has been working with healthcare colleagues to ensure that those arriving under the scheme will have access to essential services and any specific support they need.

School places will be available and Ukrainian children arriving under the Scheme will also be able to work and receive benefits.

To help support Ukrainian individuals and families arriving Sefton through the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ initiative, Sefton CVS and Sefton 4 Good, in partnership with Sefton Council and local VCF sector organisations, has launched a Sefton Ukraine Welcome Appeal.

The Appeal will help to provide a community response, such as settlement grants for individuals and families; providing social, cultural and community networks and activities, language support, travel cards, clothing, IT and equipment and other needs as they are identified.

To donate, people can visit the Sefton Ukraine Welcome Appeal fundraising page at https://justgiving.com/campaign/seftonukraineappeal